Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 versus rival model with similar score

Further readings for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3

To provide photographers with a broader perspective about mobiles, lenses and cameras, here are links to articles, reviews, and analyses of photographic equipment produced by DxOMark, renown websites, magazines or blogs.

Panasonic GH series of micro four-thirds cameras are some of the best all-round video and stills hybrid solutions currently available. Read on to find out how the new 4K capable Four Thirds sensor in GH4 performs.

Following on from the firm’s hugely popular E-M5 and E-M1 models Olympus has introduced a new ‘entry-level’ model, the E-M10, sharing most of the features of both siblings. Read on to find out how the new model performs.

We’ve had the opportunity to analyze the image quality of Panasonic’s high-end 16-Mpix Lumix DMC-GX7 mirrorless camera with over 70% of the native mount lenses that are currently available (for it). We’ve scrutinized a total of 33 Panasonic, Olympus and Sigma made lenses to assess the imaging characteristics specifically with the new camera. Read on to find out which of those models you should be using, and which, if any, you should try and avoid.

With a traditional looking design, the latest addition to Panasonic’s Lumix CSC range the GM1 is, arguably, the firm’s slickest camera yet. It has the same 16-Mpix-resolution sensor as the larger, rangefinder-style GX7, and although housed in a tiny aluminum shell it features a 3-inch touchscreen LCD, plenty of manual control and an electronic shutter capable of 1/16000th max shutter speed and 40fps burst. Read on to find out how this super-compact model performs.

Panasonic is refreshing older lenses in its line-up with a more modern looking exterior finish and, with this model, a new optical design that makes it smaller, lighter and more modestly priced than its predecessor. Read on to find out how well it performs.

Olympus always said the OM-D was a new line of cameras, and sure enough, after the delightful E-M5 the firm announced the flagship E-M1. With a new exterior design and a long-list of improvements over the E-M5, including a 16.3-Mpix Live MOS sensor with on-chip phase detection pixels, the E-M1 is being touted not as the replacement to the E-M5 but as the successor to the firm’s Four-Thirds E-5 model. Read on to see how well the new camera performed after putting it through our labs.

The GX7 is Panasonic's classy replacement for the rangefinder style GX1 and features a new, improved 16-Mpix sensor, a tilting widescreen viewfinder and rear screen plus built-in WIFI connectivity. The magnesium alloy bodied camera is also the first from Panasonic to feature in-body stabilization, but just how well does this $999 (body only) mirrorless model perform

As with previous guides, this review is intended to help you make the right choice when selecting lenses, in this instance, for the micro Four Thirds Olympus OMD E-M5 and the rival offering from Panasonic, the Lumix DMC-GH3. These two flagship models share not only the same mount, as partners of the Micro Four Thirds alliance, but in this particular instance, a similar 16Mpix MOS sensor as well. The prevalence of high quality primes (and let’s not forget zooms) for those cameras makes it, arguably, the most attractive proposition of any of the mirrorless camera systems currently available. Read on to see which lens models are the best performing in the range.

Following on from the enormous success of the OMD- E-M5, the firm has now upgraded its flagship PEN E-P model with a ‘5-axis’ stabilized 16-MPix MOS sensor. Read on to find out how well it performs in our labs.

Although compact and likeable enough, Olympus’ first 17mm for MFT (Micro Four Third) wasn’t one of the best performing lenses. With a fast maximum aperture, this new lens aims to build on the popularity of the angle of view / focal length while offering improved image quality. Read on to see if Olympus has achieved their goal.

Sony’s update to the Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 includes provision for a optional EVF and a useful pull-out rear LCD, but the head line news is the inclusion of a newly developed back-illuminated Exmor R BSI-CMOS sensor with superior low-light performance. Read on to see how well the new sensor performs in our labs.

While Samsung has a number of zooms in their mirrorless NX lens range, their primes consist of an intriguing amalgamation of compact ‘pancake’ types, ultra-high speed designs and special purpose models. We’ve assembled five models for testing and analyzed them using a 20Mpix Samsung NX20. Read on to see how well the combination of high-resolution APS-C sensor and innovative NX-mount primes perform.

Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-G6 is the update to last year’s DMC-G5 MFT camera, the firm’s $750 mid-range EVF equipped model sitting above the entry-level finder-less DMC-GF6 yet beneath the mighty video-maker’s favorite DMC-GH3. The new camera features a 16-Mpix Live MOS sensor as well as a new Venus processing engine, but just how well does it perform in our labs?

The GH3 is an important camera for Panasonic - it's one that needs to retrench the company's position in the market for filmmakers on a budget or for whom size is a concern at a time where the big DSLR makers are starting to take video seriously. It's also a camera that needs to act as a flagship for the company's Micro Four Thirds offerings - lending extra credibility to the rest of a lineup that risk being eclipsed by the work of Olympus and its other mirrorless rivals.

The Samsung NX20 is a good ‘Hybrid’ APS-C camera, it is a pretty good APS-C camera, and actually it’s not a bad camera by any standards! Unfortunately for the Samsung it is surrounded by other good cameras and needs something special to make it not just a good camera but a successful camera.

Launched in September 2011, the Samsung NX200 marks a significant point in the NX line because it features an all-new APS-C CMOS sensor with 20.3megapixels. Among the hybrid cameras, this is about as big as sensors currently get, so Samsung are aiming at the high ground, a fact confirmed by the premium feel all-metal body – a first in the NX-series.

Hybrid is a word used both positively and negatively, quite appropriate for the photographic industry. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 wears this badge: "Hybrid", a mix of system and compact. It has a range of lenses spanning 7mm to 300mm (equivalent to 14mm up to 600mm in full frame 35mm) and a body that is not much bigger than a compact camera. Should it wear it with pride? Yes, it should…

Comments

1.7 million dot OLED viewfinder

Thanks for the great review. You mentioned that the GH3 had a 1.4 Mpix viewfinder (same as the Olympus EM-5 and other previous Lumix cameras) but it in fact has a 1.7 million dot OLED viewfinder. It must be the OLED because there is no comparison between this excellent viewfinder and the others. It is so good in fact, that I far prefer this WYSIWYG viewfinder to our Nikon 5100 optical viewfinder. Along with its smaller silent focus lenses and great video, it is truly the “Goldilocks” camera for serious photographers and videographers. There is no other camera like it!

Same sensor

"Color depth at 22.7 is excellent, Dynamic Range at 12.4 EV it best in class and ISO at 812 is only just behind the two Olympus cameras."

Actually, all of them are within a margin of error of your tests, so it is 99.9% the same sensor as the 3 2012 Olympuses (E-M5, E-PM2, E-PL5).DR of 12.4 EV is curios as the cameras have 12 bit RAW format. :)

Re: Mistake in the review of GH3.

Test should mention (at least) the video features

When comparing the GH3 with other mirrorless hybrid cameras (price/performance) the video features of the GH3 should also be included in the comparison. The video specs are far better than any other hybrid or DSLR camera except at a much higher price.